LIBERTY, Texas – It’s an issue that has been going on for months in Liberty County.
The issue is loose and stray dogs which have overrun some neighborhoods across the county.
The dogs have been responsible for a number of attacks which KPRC 2 has reported on over the past few months.
The issue has also been front and center at recent meetings of the Liberty County Commissioners Court and on Tuesday, KPRC 2 was with animal advocates who came back to urge county officials to build an animal shelter and to create an animal services department.
Liberty County Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Arthur said after the meeting there will be public workshops on the matter, which gave some residents hope for change.
However, after the advocates left, several other officials in attendance were captured on video appearing to mock or joke about the issue and members of the media. People at the meeting say the two individuals exchanging the remarks were Liberty County Pct. 3 Commissioner David Whitmire and Liberty County Judge Jay Knight.
“News people gone?” Whitmire asks.
“I hope so,” Knight responds. “They’re waiting for you out there.”
Shortly afterward, Knight makes barking and woofing sounds like a dog, appearing to joke or mock the issue.
The County Attorney appears to then remind the judge that the meeting is being livestreamed.
“They’re mocking us, it’s disgusting, heart breaking actually,” said animal advocate Lisa Noble.
No one answered Commissioner Whitmire’s phone and when we called for County Judge Knight and County Attorney Matthew Postom, we were told by secretaries that they would pass on the message. but so far we have not had any calls returned.
“When you hear him making these barking sounds after recording this from the zoom today, that they’ve now taken down, what went through your mind immediately,” KPRC 2′s Deven Clarke asked animal advocate Maria Acevedo.
“They failed as elected officials. In my opinion they really failed and it’s sad because they continue to fail, because not just not doing your job, mocking the people laughing?” Acevedo responded.
